January’s #globalclassroom Chat – Dream, Do, Make!

The quote above appears on the website of Michael Graffin, the founder of the #globalclassroom chat, and I think it is perfect as we dive into this month’s chat topic related to makerspaces in education. The idea that students can be inspired, that they can dream of ideas, and be provided with the space and materials to actually explore, design, create, and turn their ideas into reality is a wonderful one and it is no wonder that so many educators have embraced it. Here’s to dreaming, doing, and making!

Whether they are corners in classrooms, separate rooms, special labs, or workshops, makerspaces are not brand new, they aren’t rare, and they continue to pop up in schools around the world. These spaces can look very different and the activities that take place in them can vary – robotics, electronics, woodworking, and more – but the fact is that the ideas and resources out there today are never-ending. But what is common in all of these makerspaces is that students are exploring and designing and doing. They are interested, they are engaged, and they are learning.

When brainstorming ideas for this month’s chat focus, Michael said, “In the past year or so, words like makerspace and STEM have become prominent in many educational discussions, and indeed, in my own school in Western Australia. I’m curious about what these terms mean in your countries and your schools – and this chat is dedicated to exploring global perspectives on maker education.”

So without further ado, here are the questions we will focus on during January’s #globalclassroom chats:

Questions

Q1: How would you define the term #makerspace & what does it look like in your school/ country? #globalclassroom

Q2: Do you have any photos of your #makerspace to share here? (Attach a pic to a tweet, share a blog post w/ pics, etc.) #globalclassroom

Q3: What kinds of #makerspace projects or challenges do you run or participate in?#globalclassroom

Q4: Are you looking to connect with international #makerspaces? What might this look like?#globalclassroom